What Ana Does

I've been thinking a lot about Paris recently. Maybe because a year ago, we were heading back to our Paris apartment after a month back in the states and getting the girls back into school and what a wonderful experience that all was. And for the most part, I'm completely re-assimilated back into my USA life and feeling pretty good about things. ... EXCEPT ... EXCEPT ... I still (STILL) prep myself to say "bonjour" every time I walk in a store. And sometimes my brain starts to translate whatever I'm there to find in case I need help.  It's been 6 months, so I'm not sure when that instinct will go away. We were all so lucky to have that experience for 14 months. It's hard not to miss something so special. Onward! Related post: Catch up on the whole Paris experience

In the spirit of changing up the way we live in this house since being in Paris, we decided to hang the TV above the fireplace, thereby reorienting the entire family room. Or did we?? First, we set the TV on the mantle and moved the sofa, to test the experience. We decided the TV wasn't too high and it wasn't like we were craning our neck to watch our shows and movies. Next, we asked the electrician to add an outlet above the fireplace, so we could minimize the cords that hang down. Ideally, there would be no wires visible. Then, we hung the TV and I started to think about what we can hang around the TV. I was thinking the records we have hanging in the living room. And we stared at those wires hanging off the right. And that made us unhappy. We just couldn't figure out a way to hide that pesky coaxial cable wire! Everything else we were able to hide. And that was a dealbreaker. So until we cut the cable TV cord (which we're not ready to do yet) or when ...

While in Paris, I spent an insane amount of time thinking about updating my laundry room. I spent hours looking at Pinterest and imaging the different ways to use]the space. As our move grew closer, I started settling on ideas and drawing out plans and a budget. In my Post Paris Plan, that laundry room was a priority for a renovation. Wonder why? Here's a quick look ... Laundry Room Before: Glorious, NO!? This room (and it's a room and not a glorified closet, as it looks like now) is near the garage door and I know it could be 100000% more useful and productive with a little time, money and energy. Just adding a few built-in cabinets will improve the room. Or take a look at this space near the garage door. I consider it a "mud room" since it's where shoes get kicked off and where I leave my grocery bags, etc.  The Laundry Room "Mud Room" Area. It's Empty Because I Took This Picture Over the Summer. Now can you just imagine it with som...

Can you believe I made it more than 14 months without painting a single room?! But the girls wanted to update their room colors and I couldn't help but oblige. I mean, any excuse to paint is a good one. And my constant quest to re-move in is in full swing, so a painting project or two was a quick and easy update. Leah's room color hadn't been changed since we moved in seven years ago, so she was certainly due for an upgrade. (Here's the 2012 post for proof.) My almost-13-year-old picked a very cool blue to go with the "beach theme" in her room. The new color is on the left, and the old color is on the right. Leah At Work! New Color on the Left, Old Color on the Right (Notice the Nasty Baseboard Color) Alice started by looking at mustard yellows and oranges -- and I did my best to steer her toward a more palpable color. She ended up with a spring green called "Green Fees." It's definitely more mature than the little-girl lavender I pain...